Smart Window Creation in a Graphical User Interface

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling a graphical user interface (GUI) comprises preparing a window for displaying at an intended display location in a window display operation. The location of GUI control elements of the window at the intended display location and the location of a graphical cursor are identified. GUI control element location and the graphical cursor location are compared. The window display operation is modified if the two coincide, for example by moving the window display location so that they do not coincide.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a Continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/657,917, filed on Oct. 23, 2012and entitled “Smart Window Creation in a Graphical User Interface”,which claims priority to GB Application No. 1118991.7 filed on Nov. 3,2011, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to graphical user interfaces. Moreparticularly, it relates to improvements to window creation in graphicaluser interfaces.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Since the nineteen eighties, the predominant means of human-computerinteraction has been via a graphical user interface (GUI). The dominantform of GUI has been known by the acronym WIMP after its main elements:window; icon; menu; and pointing device. In this form of interaction,the computer operating system provides a display representing a desktopmetaphor with icons representing links to objects such as directoriesand applications. On selection by a user of an appropriate icon, theoperating system may create an instance of an application which runswithin a window, a metaphorical “view” of the running application whichfunctions as a self-contained entity on the desktop of the GUI display.The user interacts with the GUI using a pointing device, such as a mouseor a joystick, to control the movement of a cursor which specifies thepoint of interaction with the GUI display. Using, for example, a mouse,the user may position the cursor over graphical controls such as icons,menu entries, and window control regions, and then operate a mousebutton to send an operation command to the control, which then causes anoperation specified by the control to be performed. In an example of auser interface provided by Microsoft Windows (Windows is a registeredtrade mark of Microsoft Corporation) the window has three controlbuttons at the top right of the window which, respectively, cause thefollowing functions to be performed: minimizing the window to, forexample, a selectable icon on the toolbar of a GUI display; maximizingthe window to cover the full screen of the display; and closing thewindow to close that instance of an application.

A user may have many windows and minimized windows displayed at a time,and may be opening and closing new windows over time. In such anenvironment, windows may be created or restored from a minimizedcondition at any time. It is therefore possible for windows to becreated or restored to a position on the display so that a windowcontrol button is under the current position of the cursor. If at thesame time a user operates a mouse button, for example, this will causethe unintended operation of the window control button function, such asto minimize, maximize or close the corresponding window.

United States published patent application U.S. 2009/0193357 discloses amethod to prevent a second application GUI interface window blocking afirst application GUI interface window while the user's focus is on thefirst window causing unintended input into the second applicationwindow. This is accomplished by temporarily discarding inputs while thegraphical cursor is located on the second application window for apredetermined amount of time to give the user enough time to refocus onthe second application window.

United States published patent application U.S.2009/0125850 disclosesthe addition of a user selectable lock to a GUI control, such as a closebutton. The lock can be imposed on an individual window. After beingapplied, a user will have to explicitly unlock the control before thecontrol can be selected, which prevents inadvertent selections of thelocked control. For example, a lock can be placed on a close control toprevent accidental closing of a window. Locks can be manually orautomatically applied. Automatically applied locks can be associatedwith a set of user configurable rules, which can also establish rulesfor automatically unlocking GUI controls. An applied GUI control lockcan be unlocked in a user configurable manner, with any level ofsecurity.

It would be advantageous to provide a better solution to the problem ofthe inadvertent selection of GUI window control buttons which may occurwhen a window is displayed on a display screen and the position of awindow control button coincides with the graphical cursor position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, viewed from a first aspect the present invention provides amethod for controlling a graphical user interface, GUI, comprisingpreparing a window for displaying at an intended display location in awindow display operation, identifying a location of a GUI controlelement of the window at the intended display location, identifying alocation of a graphical cursor, and comparing the GUI control elementlocation with the graphical cursor location. On identifying that thelocations coincide, the window display operation is modified.

Preferably the method provides for the GUI control element to be one of:a close button; a minimize button; a maximize button; a menu button; acheck box or a radio button.

Preferably the method provides for modifying the window displayoperation comprising changing the window display location so that theGUI control element location and graphical cursor location do notcoincide.

Preferably the method provides for the location of the graphical cursorbeing a current location.

Preferably the method provides for the location of the graphical cursorbeing a predicted location.

Preferably the method provides for the predicted location beingdetermined from cursor movement speed and direction information.

Preferably the method provides for modifying the window displayoperation comprising disabling the operation of the GUI control element.

Preferably the method provides for repeating the comparison after a timeinterval, and if the locations do not coincide, displaying the windowwith GUI control element operation enabled.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer system for effecting the controlling of a graphical userinterface, GUI, comprising a processor, and a display device incommunication with the processor. A window display component is forpreparing a window for displaying at an intended display location in awindow display operation. A first identifying component is foridentifying the location of a GUI control element of the window at theintended display location. A second identifying component is foridentifying a location of a graphical cursor. A comparison component isfor comparing the GUI control element location with the graphical cursorlocation. A third identifying component is for identifying that thelocations coincide and a modifier component is for modifying the windowdisplay operation.

Preferably the system provides for the GUI control element being one of:a close button; a minimize button; a maximize button; a menu button; acheck box or a radio button.

Preferably the system provides for the modifier component being formodifying the window display operation by changing the window displaylocation so that the GUI control element location and graphical cursorlocation do not coincide.

Preferably the system provides for the location of the graphical cursorbeing a current location.

Preferably the system provides for the location of the graphical cursorbeing a predicted location.

Preferably the system provides for the predicted location beingdetermined from information concerning speed and direction of cursormovement.

Preferably the system provides for the modifier component being formodifying the window display operation by disabling the operation of theGUI control element.

Preferably the system provides for the comparison component repeatingthe comparison after a time interval, and if the locations do notcoincide, the window display component displaying the window with GUIcontrol element operation enabled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer program comprising computer program code stored on a computerreadable medium to, when loaded into a computer system and executedthereon, cause the computer system to perform the steps of the methodaccording to the first aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below, byway of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 a is a representation of a desktop of a graphical user interfaceof a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1 b is a representation of a desktop of a graphical user interfaceof a preferred embodiment of the present invention after opening of awindow;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system including a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 a is a representation of a desktop of a graphical user interfacedepicting the solution of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 b is a representation of a desktop of a graphical user interfacedepicting a further preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the solution of a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, FIG. 1 a is a representation of a graphicaluser interface of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Thegraphical user interface comprises desktop 110, on which are displayedtaskbar 120 and icons 130 a, 130 b and 130 c. Icons 130 a, 130 b and 130c represent selectable software items, for example applications or datafolders. An iconic representation of an application appears on thetaskbar when an instance of the application is opened in a window.Graphical cursor 140 is freely moveable on desktop 110 using a cursormovement device such as a computer mouse, a trackball, a trackpad or ajoystick. It is understood that other arrangements of graphical userinterface are possible without departing from the invention.

FIG. 1 b illustrates the opening of a window on the graphical userinterface of FIG. 1. A user starts an instance of an application in awindow 150 on desktop 110. This initiation action may follow selectionof an icon representing the application by using a cursor 140 under thecontrol of a cursor control device, for example a mouse, trackball,trackpad, or joystick. It may also be accomplished by selection from amenu of selectable items. Window 150 comprises, in addition to thewindow contents, title bar 160. At the left of title bar 160 is windowmenu selection button 180. Selection of this button causes display of adrop down menu of available selection operations. At the right of titlebar 160 are, respectively, MINIMIZE button 170 a, MAXIMIZE button 170 band CLOSE button 170 c. The selection of these buttons causes,respectively, the minimization of window 150, the maximization of thewindow, and the closure of the window.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. Computer system 210 comprises the operating softwareof a computer including a preferred embodiment of the present invention.Depicted is application software 250, for example a word processor. Alsodepicted is computer operating system 220. Operating system 220comprises window manager 230 and cursor control component 240. Whenapplication software 250 is started by selection action of a user, theapplication software 250 sends a request to window manager 230 to starta window to provide the interface to the running instance of theapplication. In a preferred embodiment, window manager 230 isresponsible for determining the appearance, size and screen position ofthe window. Alternatively, application software 250 may communicatedesired appearance, size and position to window manager 230. In apreferred embodiment, appearance and size are set by default settings inthe window manager 230 which may be configurable by the user. Theposition at which window manager 230 opens the window is also set by aseries of defaults, usually providing a set of possible positions.Preferably, window manager 230 does not open successively startedwindows directly on top of each other. Preferably, window manager 230opens each new window at a position different from the previouslystarted window. This ensures that the number of opened windows isreadily discernible by the user because at least a portion of each openwindow is visible on the desktop 110.

The user interacts with the graphical user interface desktop 110 ondisplay 280 using a cursor movement device such as mouse 270, atrackball, a trackpad or a joystick. Movement of mouse 270 generatessignals indicative of the movement which are communicated to cursorcontrol component 240. Cursor control component 240 comprises programcode which interprets signals from cursor movement device, for examplemouse 270. Although cursor control component 240 is depicted as aseparate software component of operating system 220, its function may beperformed by window manager 230. When cursor movement device is mouse270, according to a preferred embodiment, cursor control component 240comprises mouse driver software. Cursor control component 240 movesgraphical cursor 140 in response to movement of mouse 270. Cursor 140comprises a single pixel point, usually at its tip, sometimes known asthe hot spot, which is the site of action of commands communicated frommouse 270 to cursor 140. The position of the cursor 140 hot spot istracked by cursor control component 240 which views desktop 110 ondisplay 280 as a bitmap on which each pixel is represented by x- andy-coordinates, usually with reference to the top left corner of desktop110. Cursor control component 240 also communicates the position ofcursor 140 to window manager 230.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 b, when the user starts an instance ofapplication software 250, window manager 230 configures a window 150 anddisplays it on desktop 110. The situation may arise as illustrated inwhich the cursor 140 hot spot is within a GUI control element, forexample a control button, of window 150 at its intended creation pointas set by window manager 230, in this case CLOSE button 170 c. Aselection action by the user as the window is created, for example bydepressing a button of mouse 270, will cause a “close window” command tobe issued. Window manager 230 will then close window 150. This selectionaction may be an inadvertent action, or designed for another applicationwindow already open on desktop 110, and will be a source of irritationto the user.

Window manager 230 determines the bounding coordinates of window 150 tobe opened on the bitmap of desktop 110. Window manager 230 is thereforeaware also of the bounding coordinates of the visual components ofwindow 150, namely title bar 160, and control elements: window menuselection button 180, MINIMIZE button 170 a, MAXIMIZE button 170 b andCLOSE button 170 c. Window manager 230 includes logic to compare thebounding coordinates of window control elements with the currentcoordinates of the cursor 140 hot spot as communicated to it by cursorcontrol component 240. FIG. 1 b illustrates a situation in which thiscomparison will produce a positive result, with cursor 140 hot spotwithin the bounding coordinates of CLOSE button 170 c.

FIG. 3 a illustrates a solution according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. Illustrated is the intended creation point 310 ofthe window 150 shown in FIG. 1 b. A comparison of the position of cursor140 hot spot from cursor control component 240 with coordinates of thewindow control elements is conducted by logic of window manager 230. Apositive result is produced because cursor 140 hot spot coincides withCLOSE button 170 c. In response, window manager 230 revises the creationposition of the window. In the illustrated embodiment, the window iscreated instead at position 320. At this position, there is no longer apositive result of the comparison of window control element coordinateswith cursor 140 hot spot, and the window may open normally. In apreferred embodiment, window manager 230 uses the next position in itsseries of default window positions at which to open the window. Itrepeats the coordinate comparison. A negative result will cause windowmanager 230 to create the window at this new position 320. It will beapparent to the skilled person that any other means of shifting windowposition may be used.

FIG. 3 b illustrates a further preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the situation is addressed in whichcursor 140 is moving at the time of window creation. In this embodiment,cursor control component 240 records the current speed and direction ofcursor movement. As illustrated in FIG. 3 b, cursor 140 is moving indirection 330. Cursor control component 240 produces a range of possiblecursor coordinates based on computation of cursor speed and direction ofmovement. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3 b, these possiblecoordinates lie within the approximate bounds shown by lines 340 a and340 b. In this embodiment, rather than communicate a single cursor 140hot spot coordinate address, cursor control component 240 communicates arange of possible coordinates to window manager 230. Window manager 230uses this range of coordinates in its comparison with window controlelement bounding coordinates rather than a single value for cursor 140hot spot. This avoids the possibility of inadvertently opening a windowunder a future possible cursor position.

In a further preferred embodiment, and illustrated again by FIG. 3 b,window manager 230 disables operation of window control elements untilcursor 140 has been moved away from their intended creation positions.Window manager 230 responds to a positive result of a comparison ofcursor 140 hot spot position and coordinates of window control elements,such as CLOSE button 170 c, by disabling the operation of window controlelements, for example CLOSE button 170 c. After a time interval, thecomparison is carried out again. If cursor 140 has been moved, forexample in the direction of the arrow 330, the comparison will nowproduce a negative result. Window manager 230 now re-enables windowcontrol element functions.

In a further preferred embodiment, window manager 230 responds to apositive result of the comparison of cursor 140 hot spot position andwindow control element coordinates by disabling control elementfunctions for a time interval before re-enabling them, without waitingfor cursor 140 to move. This allows time for the user to recognizewindow creation and avoid inadvertent window control element operation.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of a preferredembodiment of the present invention. At step 410, application software250 requests window manager 230 create an instance of the application ina window 150. At step 420, window manager 230 queries window positionfrom cursor control component 240. At step 430, cursor control component240 passes cursor 140 hot spot coordinates to window manager 230, andwindow manager 230 compares the coordinates with those of window controlelements, for example control buttons, at an intended window creationpoint at step 440. A positive result at step 440 causes window manager230 to modify window creation operation at step 450, for example so thatpositions do not coincide. The window manager then creates the window atstep 460. A negative result at step 440 causes window manager 230 tocreate a window at step 460 without modifying window creation operation.

It will be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that all or part ofthe method of the preferred embodiments of the present invention maysuitably and usefully be embodied in a logic apparatus, or a pluralityof logic apparatus, comprising logic elements arranged to perform thesteps of the method and that such logic elements may comprise hardwarecomponents, firmware components or a combination thereof.

It will be equally clear to one of skill in the art that all or part ofa logic arrangement according to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention may suitably be embodied in a logic apparatuscomprising logic elements to perform the steps of the method, and thatsuch logic elements may comprise components such as logic gates in, forexample a programmable logic array or application-specific integratedcircuit. Such a logic arrangement may further be embodied in enablingelements for temporarily or permanently establishing logic structures insuch an array or circuit using, for example, a virtual hardwaredescriptor language, which may be stored and transmitted using fixed ortransmittable carrier media.

It will be appreciated that the method and arrangement described abovemay also suitably be carried out fully or partially in software runningon one or more processors (not shown in the figures), and that thesoftware may be provided in the form of one or more computer programelements carried on any suitable data-carrier (also not shown in thefigures) such as a magnetic or optical disk or the like. Channels forthe transmission of data may likewise comprise storage media of alldescriptions as well as signal-carrying media, such as wired or wirelesssignal-carrying media.

A method is generally conceived to be a self-consistent sequence ofsteps leading to a desired result. These steps require physicalmanipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily,these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capableof being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwisemanipulated. It is convenient at times, principally for reasons ofcommon usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, parameters,items, elements, objects, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or thelike. It should be noted, however, that all of these terms and similarterms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities andare merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

The present invention may further suitably be embodied as a computerprogram product for use with a computer system. Such an implementationmay comprise a series of computer-readable instructions either fixed ona tangible medium, such as a computer readable medium, for example,diskette, CD-ROM, ROM, or hard disk, or transmittable to a computersystem, via a modem or other interface device, over either a tangiblemedium, including but not limited to optical or analogue communicationslines, or intangibly using wireless techniques, including but notlimited to microwave, infrared or other transmission techniques. Theseries of computer readable instructions embodies all or part of thefunctionality previously described herein.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such computer readableinstructions can be written in a number of programming languages for usewith many computer architectures or operating systems. Further, suchinstructions may be stored using any memory technology, present orfuture, including but not limited to, semiconductor, magnetic, oroptical, or transmitted using any communications technology, present orfuture, including but not limited to optical, infrared, or microwave. Itis contemplated that such a computer program product may be distributedas a removable medium with accompanying printed or electronicdocumentation, for example, shrink-wrapped software, pre-loaded with acomputer system, for example, on a system ROM or fixed disk, ordistributed from a server or electronic bulletin board over a network,for example, the Internet or World Wide Web.

In one alternative, the preferred embodiment of the present inventionmay be realized in the form of a computer implemented method ofdeploying a service comprising steps of deploying computer program codeoperable to, when deployed into a computer infrastructure and executedthereon, cause said computer system to perform all the steps of themethod.

In a further alternative, the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention may be realized in the form of a data carrier havingfunctional data thereon, said functional data comprising functionalcomputer data structures to, when loaded into a computer system andoperated upon thereby, enable said computer system to perform all thesteps of the method.

1. A method for controlling a graphical user interface (GUI),comprising: preparing a window for displaying at an intended displaylocation in a window display operation; identifying a location of a GUIcontrol element of the window at the intended display location;identifying a location of a graphical cursor; comparing the GUI controlelement location with the graphical cursor location; identifying thatthe GUI control element location and the graphical cursor locationcoincide; and responsive to identifying that the GUI control elementlocation and the graphical cursor location coincide, modifying thewindow display operation.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the GUIcontrol element is one of a close button, a minimize button, a maximizebutton, a menu button, a check box and a radio button.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein modifying the window display operation compriseschanging the window display location so that the GUI control elementlocation and graphical cursor location do not coincide.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the location of the graphical cursor is a currentlocation.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the location of the graphicalcursor is a predicted location.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein thepredicted location is determined from cursor movement speed anddirection information.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying thewindow display operation comprises disabling the operation of the GUIcontrol element.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising repeatingthe comparison after a time interval, and if the locations do notcoincide, displaying the window with GUI control element operationenabled.
 9. A computer program comprising computer program code storedon a computer readable medium that is operable to, when loaded into acomputer system and executed thereon, cause the computer system toperform the method according to claim 1.